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Teheran and six world powers reached a historic nuclear deal in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday that will enable a revitalized sanction-free Iran to boost trade and cooperation with China, analysts said.

The long-awaited agreement with China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States aims to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the gradual suspension of sanctions. The sanctions have slashed the Middle East country’s oil exports and crippled its economy.

Shada Islam, policy director of the Brussels-based think tank Friends of Europe, said China could help Iran to mitigate the impact of the sanctions by providing short-term “emergency aid”.This would help to meet shortfalls in the health sector and supply urgently needed essential items.”In the long run, the focus will of course be on the development of Iran’s infrastructure and oil and gas sector,” said Islam. “Given its location and diverse regional interests, Iran will also inevitably play a crucial role in China’s (new) Silk Road proposal.”